Ear infection and skin rash

Question
Our 12 y/o anatol mix has had what our Vet has called an ear infection for six months. The drops have not worked (tried at least 2 different types) and now she yelps and pulls away when we put them in. She also has black spots on her skin that are flakey, dry and itch.  She bites at these spots until they are red and irritated. Vet now thinks it could be an allergic reaction to something. She is still on the ear drops, but has a pill form as well and has pills for the rash. The rash pills taste so bad to her, that she will not eat food that looks like them as we had tried mixing it in with regular food.

This morning she vomitted the "ear" pills and as of this evening we stopped giving her the meds all together, but our vet will not be able to call us for a few days.

My question is, should we give her an allergy med? We are going back to her regular food (tried a prescription diet in case she had become allergic to the other somehow) and stopping the pills so we can get her to eat.

Finally, our season has changed to "Winter", but that just means its now 64 at night and 80 during the day (Hawaii). I have had allergies as of late too, but not sure if she would be effected the same as I. She is originally from Colorado and has arthritis in her hips, just some background.

Thank you for any information you may be able to provide.
Merry Christmas.
Mike

Answer
Most ear infections are the result of skin allergies. Even in temperate regions like Hawaii, there is a very long if not  year round allergy season.   So if the vet has the dog on a steroid pill, then that will help the allergies.  In my experience, no pill will work to treat a bacterial or a yeast ear infection.  The pills may be for the bacterial infection of the skin that you are describing.